UK academics author 15% of the world's highly cited publications and and the UK ranks second only to the USA for start-ups. 

The Catapult is capitalising on UK investments in compound semiconductor research and related applications, which have exceeded £1bn over the past decade, placing the UK at the forefront of this exciting technology. 

The Catapult’s technical capabilities in power electronics, radio frequency, photonics and quantum align naturally with corresponding university specialisms, creating a direct progression from early-stage academic research to later stage commercialisation. This relationship facilitates the two-way transfer of ideas, with industry describing new challenges for future academic research.

A thriving collaborative community

Today, the Catapult is involved in over 25 collaborative R&D projects involving more than 100 partners of whom 12 are leading UK universities – in fact 70% of all our collaborative projects involve an academic partner. As a trusted partner of both academia and industry, the Catapult is at the centre of a thriving innovation ecosystem which continues to expand.

CSA Catapult collaborative R&D projects and partners

With a full pipeline of projects in flight, there are regular examples of academic excellence being applied to solve industrial problems. Within a very short space of time, the Catapult has become a trusted partner of both academia and industry.

  • Working with the CSA Catapult has enabled technology developed at Warwick University to see a wider range of industrial applications, accelerating commercial development and economic impact.

    Professor Phil Mawby

    Warwick University

  • The CSA Catapult provides the essential support required by many start-up companies, such as those spun out from universities. This will be increasingly important in the coming years, helping our semiconductor-based industries to thrive in a highly competitive world.

    Professor Sir Colin Humphreys

    Queen Mary University of London